Intro to Paralegal Studies Practice

What behavior might classify as stalking?

1. Having a casual conversation repeatedly

2. Publicly acknowledging someone’s presence

3. Continuously following someone with intent to harm

4. Posting about someone on social media

The correct answer is: Continuously following someone with intent to harm

The identification of behavior that constitutes stalking is crucial for understanding legal definitions and the boundaries of acceptable conduct. Continuously following someone with the intent to harm exemplifies stalking as it involves a pattern of unwanted monitoring or harassment that induces fear or distress in the targeted individual. This behavior goes beyond mere observation; it indicates an intention to intimidate or cause harm, which is a key characteristic of stalking defined in many legal contexts. In contrast, behaviors such as having a casual conversation repeatedly or acknowledging someone’s presence in public do not inherently imply malice or fear and are often part of normal social interactions. Posting about someone on social media can become problematic if it crosses into harassment, but it is not necessarily stalking unless it includes threatening content or a consistent pattern of unwanted attention that causes fear. Stalking behaviors are characterized by their persistent and threatening nature, as seen in the correct choice.